Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about visiting Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Great Smoky Mountain Cabins
Those planning a Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountain vacation usually have similar questions in mind when making their plans. Below are a number of frequently asked questions.
Cabins, Chalets and Condos
We offer more than 400 unique cabins and chalets of every size.
We offer any size cabin you need – from a one-bedroom romantic hideaway for 2 to enormous multi-family lodges that can house more than 40 people.
We have a wide variety of cabins available. You can choose a completely secluded cabin, a semi-secluded cabin or a cabin in a resort with amenities and neighbors
No, but all of our cabins are in Sevier County Tennessee. American Patriot Getaways manages cabins in and around Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville. Just ask us for the Smoky Mountain area you prefer.
Our wide variety of cabins feature just about any comfort you heart desires. All our properties come with fully equipped kitchens, beds that are already made up with clean sheets, TV programming, and a starter supply of everything you need to enjoy your stay. Most have porches or decks providing beautiful mountain views and outdoor hot tubs to soak your worries away. Other cabins include game rooms, pool tables, home theaters, and even indoor swimming pools! Fireplaces are also a common amenity in most properties, and great for snuggling up on a cool mountain evening. Wifi is available in most properties.
Yes – we have many cabins with water or mountain views and many cabins with access to swimming pools for the summertime. Some cabins even offer their own private indoor pools for year round swimming!
While GPS will usually find your cabin’s address, it does not always have you follow the best route. Just following the blue line may have you driving up, over, or around some mountain roads you could otherwise avoid – or even take you to a road that doesn’t actually exist. If you are using GPS to locate your cabin, please be sure to reference the preferred step-by-step directions and map included with your confirmation packet. Our team has already scouted the best route for you to follow to your Smoky Mountain cabin!
Check in time is after 4 p.m. Just use our convenient guest portal right from your iphone. Of course, you are always welcome to stop by the American Patriot Getaways office in Pigeon Forge, but with the guest portal you can drive straight to the cabin! Once the property is cleaned and ready for your arrival, then the portal will provide all the codes you need for entry. If your home uses a physical key and lock box, then be sure to put the key back in the lock box upon departure, and we will set a new code.
No. Some seasons are more affordable than others. Rates may vary according to the season, length of stay, or even the particular days of the week. Just enter your dates of stay and our site will automatically grab the best discounts and specials available for that time period. Or – let us help find the right cabin for your vacation plans and budget. Call American Patriot Getaways’ reservation planner at (800) 204-5169 for details about the best time to rent a Gatlinburg cabin for your ideal mountain getaway.
Timing Your Trip
Anytime is a good time to visit the Smokies! Escape in the summer and enjoy Dolly’s Splash Country, the cool river hikes of the GSMNP, Soaky Mountain Water Park, Indoor Snow tubing, Douglas Lake boating, or all of the great attractions! Vacation this winter to escape the crowds, explore the snowy heights, ski and snowboard at Ober Gatlinburg, or just marvel at the Christmas lights. Spring time brings the flowers back to Cades Cove where mother bears frolic with their cubs, Dollywood’s Flower Fest blooms, and the Sevierville Bluegrass and BBQ Fest sounds off. Fall foliage is the big draw during the Smokies’ autumn season, but the cooler air brings with it a bevy of fun festivities like Dolly’s Luminights, Our Autumn Harvest Festival, the Fall Rod Run, Christmas shopping trips, and the Gatlinburg Craft Fair – just to name a few! Check our blog for more ideas.
No, we are open year round! Dollywood and an occasional theater show will close for retooling after the New Year holiday. Dollywood won; reopen until March, but otherwise the Smokies are open and so are the attractions, dining, shopping, and fun! Our mountains see more than 12 million people annually–and visitation continues to grow.. Businesses remain open year round to accommodate travelers. The National Park also remains open all year, with only a few unimproved roads closed seasonally, or emergency closures for winter weather. Parson’s Branch and Rich Mountain Roads (off the Cades Cove loop road) and the road to Clingman’s Dome are a few examples of seasonal closures.
You might see wildlife right from your cabin! If you’re up for exploring, then the best place to see deer, wild turkey, and other small wildlife is Cades Cove. This large, open meadow has great visibility and the wildlife isn’t as timid as it can be in other areas of the park. Any time of day is a great time to watch wildlife here! Our most famous resident, the black bear, can be found on some trails and near campgrounds–looking for food. A word of caution, however: Don’t approach wildlife and most importantly – don’t feed the bears. It shortens their lives and creates dangerous circumstances for other travelers.
Weather Conditions
Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall: you’re guaranteed to like them all. Spring arrives in mid-April, although warm weather begins to appear in mid-March. Temperatures are in the upper nineties during the hottest part of the summer. Afternoon thunderstorms are common during the summer so it is a good idea to be mindful of the potential for storms as the day heats up. The summer heat lasts until late September, when cooler weather begins to settle in. Fall brings the spectacular colors of the changing leaves in the Smokies, which peak in mid to late October, depending on weather conditions such as the amount of rain as well as duration and frequency of cool nights. The Smoky Mountains are a temperate rainforest because when warm moist air from the valley ascends into the cooler air of the mountains, the water vapor in the air condenses and rain falls. Snow is possible in the Pigeon Forge area from late November through late March, but accumulation is not always guaranteed. Bear in mind that higher elevations in the mountains will have different weather. The highest elevations in the Great Smoky Mountains are comparable to Canada in terms of weather.
Fishing
A regular fishing license that is good all year in both the Tennessee and North Carolina sides of the Park. They can be purchased in any town adjacent to the Park. Local gas stations and Wal-Mart sell fishing license or visit gooutdoorstennessee.com to purchase online. Be aware there are specific restrictions about baits in some areas of the park. We suggest stopping by the visitors center and checking current restrictions before fishing within the GSMNP.
Hiking
The answer to this question will vary depending on who you talk to. However, our favorites include Abrams Falls, Rainbow Falls, Grotto Falls and of course Mt. LeConte.
Lodging
The only true lodging in the park itself is LeConte Lodge, which can only be reached by a long, arduous, hiking trail. There are 5 major trails to Mt. LeConte. The most popular route is the Alum Cave Trail. American Patriot Getaways specializes in Gatlinburg cabins and Pigeon Forge cabins. We have a variety of log cabins and chalets in locations near both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. You’ll enjoy retiring to your luxury cabin where you can soak your tired feet in the hot tub after an exciting family day hiking in the Smoky Mountain National Park.
Absolutely. American Patriot Getaways has many properties that accommodate couples perfectly. Imagine a romantic getaway in your own private log cabin with a hot tub, pool table, king bed and a cozy fireplace. Finding your perfect romantic cabin in Gatlinburg is easy with American Patriot Getaways. We include searches online for romantic and one bedroom properties, but we are also here to help. Need help planning your romantic vacation? Our vacation specialists can help you arrange all the details. Let us help you schedule a private catered dinner, order a gift basket, or have roses and champagne waiting.
Restaurants
You’ll want to check out our Dining link to see some staff favorites, but the list barely touches the options available. You could dine in a different restaurant every day for a year. No matter what your favorites are, you are sure to find it in the Smokies.
For more information on a truly memorable getaway please call American Patriot Getaways at (800) 204-5169 today!
Grocery Stores/Pharmacies
There are several grocery stores in the area to choose from. Below is a list by city:
Pigeon Forge:
Food City
Phone: 865-505-8306
3064 Teaster Lane
Kroger
Phone: 865-429-0874
220 Wears Valley Road
Publix
Phone: 865-774-2030
2656 Parkway
Gatlinburg:
Food City
Phone: 865-430-3116
1219 E Parkway
Sevierville:
Food City
Phone: 865-908-3710
741 Dolly Parton Parkway
Kroger
Phone: 865-429-0874
702 Winfield Dunn Parkway
Wal-Mart Super Center
Phone: 865-429-0029
1414 Parkway
Walgreen’s Pharmacy
119 Forks of the Rivery Parkway
Sevierville, TN 37862 (865) 908-8755
Pharmacy closed from 1:30a-2a daily
Walmart, Walgreens
Post Office
U.S. Post Office in Pigeon Forge
3235 Rena St
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
(865) 453-4043
U.S. Post Office in Gatlinburg
1216 E Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-5464
U.S. Post Office in Sevierville
711 Dolly Parton Parkway
Sevierville, TN 37862
1-800-275-8777
Airports
Knoxville’s McGhee-Tyson Airport is only 40 miles away and is served by five airlines with connecting services from cities including Atlanta, Memphis, Houston, New York/Newark, St. Louis and Philadelphia. The Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge Airport, seven miles from Pigeon Forge and has complete airport facilities for small private aircrafts.
Movie Theater
There are two theaters in the area.
In Pigeon Forge, The Forge Cinemas, located at 2530 Parkway.
In Sevierville, Southeast Cinemas, located at 1402 Hurley Dr.
Work Out
Visitors can purchase a day pass from the Pigeon Forge Community center for $8 a day; a weekly pass is $30; a monthly pass is $50 dollars. The Pigeon Forge Community Center, a recent addition to recreation opportunities in Pigeon Forge, is 86,000 square feet with a 5,000 square foot fitness center with free weights, machines, and a cardio studio. The community center features three basketball courts, two racquetball courts, an indoor jogging circuit, plus indoor and outdoor pools. For more information, contact the center with inquiries:
Pigeon Forge Community Center
170 Community Center Drive
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Phone: 865-429-7373
Flora
Peak color varies slightly each year, but you can pretty much count on great color at the higher elevations during the first two weeks of October and in the valleys in the second half of October to early November. For more information visit our Fall Color in Gatlinburg page.
Rhododendrons and flame azalea bloom in June and early July, and mountain laurel in May & June.
Some of the largest are found in the Greenbrier section of the Park. From Gatlinburg, drive east along US 321 (stoplight #3 in Gatlinburg) for approximately 6 miles, turn right on Greenbrier Road and travel 3.1 miles along the Little Pigeon River to Greenbrier Cove. Turn left at Ramsey Prong Road and travel 1.5 miles to the parking area. An eight-mile round trip hike will take you through virgin stands of chestnut oaks, poplars, and black cherry.
Weddings
Yes–if you can hike or drive to it, there are ministers who will accompany the wedding party to conduct the ceremony. A national park wedding does require a permit from the National Park Service. American Patriot Getaways offers several packages for Gatlinburg weddings.
Helpful Hints
Pigeon Forge is the site of an historic iron forge, or blacksmith’s shop, on the banks of the Little Pigeon River that served residents of the area. The pigeon in Pigeon Forge comes from the passenger pigeon, an extinct bird native to the area that once darkened the skies when flocks took flight.
The pronunciation of Sevierville is a source of frustration for many visitors. Sevier County is named for the Revolutionary War Hero John Sevier of the celebrated “Over mountain Men” who fought the pivotal Battle of King’s Mountain in South Carolina. Sevier’s name is pronounced the same as “severe.” Sevierville was named in the same tradition of naming communities after famous individuals that found names for the Tennessee communities of Knoxville, Nashville, and Greeneville. Sevierville is the county seat of Sevier County, which is the home of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
For more information on a truly memorable getaway please call American Patriot Getaways at (800) 204-5169 today!
